Where's Murray?

Ok ... it's a tad late on this, but better late than never.

For those who don't follow Great Big Sea, their bassist, Darrell Power, left at the beginning of the New Year. But that hasn't stopped this wonderful Newfoundland band from touring.

Currently on bass for Great Big Sea? One Mr. Murray Foster. He seems to be having a grand time of it all.

I was lucky enought to see his first gig with them this year in Oshawa, ON back at the end of January. And he's currently touring the States with them and I think may stick around for a little bit. (The current tour is heading for a few dates on the US West Coast and then ends, but I think he might be around for additional touring that is likely to occur this summer).

For more information, check out the Great Big Sea web site: http://www.greatbigsea.com

Ilene

DUDE! I totally called it! I JUST got into GBS because my boyfriend is from Newfoundland and he was showing me all the fun traditional Newfie music. When I heard their bassist had left, I was like, "Wouldn't it be cool if Murray started playing bass for them?"

Oh, MAN. Now I HAVE to see these guys live. Even if Andrew (the boy) teases me incessantly for it. (He'd much rather listen to non-Newfie music. I tell him to embrace his culture, but whatever.)

I'm so happy!

--Rachel/Rai (whichever you want to call me)

Yeah!!!! I was just talking to Richard about this today. Murray toured with GBS last year when their bass player could not make it for their European tour. Rich was lucky enough to see them when they came to Nottingham, UK.  and i still noted how jealous i was that i would never be able to see them live with Murray. ...Oh Happy Day....now they only have to come over this way......:-)

ps:...i don't have their latest album yet (Sea of No Cares)...who the bass player on it?

Darell's the bassist on Sea of no Cares but Murray toured with them in Europe a little bit before it came out so he's thanked in the liner notes=).

I didn't notice that, I'll have to look.

I usually stand between Sean and Alan when I see GBS, next time I have a feeling I'll be standing stage Murray.

It will be a bit strange. I have my GBS friends and other than Lisa they are not my Fruhead friends. It will be a collision of worlds.

YAY! Murray's People!

Murray is standing where Darrell used to stand. Which is ironically Murray's spot. So it all works out ok. (I usually stand as close to Alan as possible, but on the Darrell/Murray end. Which means that I got a huge grin from Murray at the Orlando show where I was up-front and wearing my "I Love Canadian Boys" Fruvous t-shirt.)

I did speak with Murray in Orlando (they came out to the pub we went to) and mentioned I saw him play the first post-Darrell GBS show in Oshawa, ON. Since I live in Massachusetts, he was suitably confused and asked why I was in Oshawa. I explained: At the time, GBS had said they were going on hiatus. And I didn't know what that meant, because when SOME bands say they are going on hiatus, they go on hiatus for years.

Murray laughed at that.

Ilene

I don't think it's ironic per se that Murray is standing stage Murray... coincidental, sure... interesting, okay... but not ironic. Just like rain on your wedding day. That isn't ironic. Just a bummer. Or a free ride when you've already paid. That's bad planning. Or good advice that you just didn't take... that's just stupid.

Who woulda thought?

 Actually, it could be considered ironic to see Murray in his same spot. The fact that he stands there is just coincidence, but since one definition of irony is knowing what the characters do not, this could work.

If the band put some thought into keeping Murray in his same spot, then it probably wouldn�t be irony, but if they never thought of it, then I think it could be.

(although you are completly right about the song ;)

The most common definitions of Irony involve some sort of incongruity, either between what is meant and what is said, or between what is expected and what occurs. If one had some reason to expect that Murray would be more likely to be put in a spot on stage other than his normal spot, then I could see the irony in the occurence of his being placed stage Murray... like if most bands had a practice of placing people in stage locations that they were not accustomed to, or if one had some knowledge that Murray specifically did not like to be located in that spot, then it would be ironic that GBS had placed him there.

As for your assertion about knowing what the characters do not... which characters are you referring to and what do we know that they do not? I'm sure that the members of GBS were aware of Murray's traditional Moxy Fruvous positioning on stage... the fact that it was the same as Darrell's spot suggests that the whole thing is merely coincidental, but even so, I still don't see where this could be construed as irony. Not to be nitpicky...

And DUDE! Where'd you get the thumbnail!?

When it comes right down to it, Murray was put in Darrell's spot. I'm sure if Darrell stood where any other band member stands (Alan, Sean, Bob - from L-R) then Murray would have been put there. Remember, it's about Great Big Sea, not about Fruvous - I don't think they would have shuffled around and upset us faithful GBS fans who stand in specific spots as well just to give Murray his usual spot. It just turns out that Darrell stood there for the past 10 years, and now Murray does.

It is probably more coincidence than irony. Whatever. Enjoy your pet peeve. Regardless (or should I be annoying and say "irregardless"), I highly doubt it was intended that Murray stand where he stood in his Fruvous days.

Ilene

IT WAS A JOKE!

Yeah, what she said.

Oh, and as for the Osbert icon... I hunted all over to try and find an image from the show, there aren't any online at all (at least what I can tell). I wound up breaking down and taking a screenshot of an animated gif, and then editing it down to the little jpg you see there.

Oh, and I did it all in a very ironic mind-set.

Now not getting the joke is ironic. Or perhaps cupric. How come iron and mercury, lead and tin, get adjectives and the other metals don't? Why aren't things auric or argent? Equal rights for all metals!

I hope you get that I'm just being aluminic.

Booo! :)

Stanley Cupric?  Because Eyes Wide Shut was awful...

Yes, you truely are a luminary figure around here ;)

hmmm...i wonder what this means for the future of The Lesters (I haven't really been keeping up well...have they already split up?)...and i wonder if this means that Murray will be moving up to Newfoundland any time soon (if he hasn't already)......

just some thoughts

The Lesters haven't played in ages so far as I know. The place they played burned down and they took that as an omen/opportunity to work on the act some more. I don't think the results of that work have been aired publicly though. As far as Murray moving to Newfoundland... I seriously doubt it. I mean Toronto... Newfoundland... Which would you choose?